Lee Smith made a fairytale return to rugby league with a two-try performance, the second score snatching a thrilling draw for the Super League champions after a derby in which they had been outplayed for long periods.

The Rhinos were trailing 20-6 with 14 minutes remaining but tries from Brett Delaney and Kevin Sinfield brought them back within range before Smith collected Danny McGuire's kick to tiptoe down the right touchline and bring the Headingley house down. It was uncannily similar to Smith's last significant contribution for Leeds before he left for Wasps last autumn, his match-winning try in the Rhinos' third successive grand final triumph having come from another McGuire kick.

The pair go a long way back, to the East Leeds amateur club – the sort of familiarity and friendship that Smith struggled without in his four months in London.

"They've done that before," said the Leeds coach, Brian McClennan, who will hope that this point can kick-start the Rhinos' title defence. "Lee did really well and it was fitting what happened at the end. He's got a bit of conditioning to catch up on yet for rugby league, but his instincts and his willingness to get involved are still the same."

Even after Smith's second try there was much more drama. Sinfield was unable to add a match-winning conversion, but in the three minutes that remained desperate Bradford defenders twice charged down drop-goal attempts to secure the point that was the least they deserved.

"It's a bit like watching your mother-in-law drive off a cliff in a brand new car – I've got mixed emotions," said the Bulls coach, Steve McNamara, reviving a line used by his predecessor and mentor, Brian Smith, at the start of the Super League era. "I do think it's a point lost, but Kevin normally comes up with those conversions, doesn't he? And it's been done to us in the past."

For more than 60 minutes this was a highly impressive Bradford performance that confirmed their new-look team have the potential to re-emerge as a force after several seasons in the doldrums.

The Australian scrum-half Matt Orford pulled the strings masterfully, sending Chris Nero in for the opening try inside four minutes. Nick Scruton then welcomed Smith back to rugby league with a shuddering shoulder charge and the Bulls added two more tries to establish a 16-0 lead in 24 minutes. Dave Halley stepped inside Ryan Hall for their second, then the veteran Steve Menzies stretched over on the right after Jamie Langley's tackle had forced another error from Hall.

McGuire gave the Rhinos heart late in the first half with a long pass that sent Smith over for his first try and Sinfield lifted their morale further by curling over the conversion from the touchline. But the Bulls remained comfortably the better side and seemed to have made the game safe when Nero pushed off McGuire for his second.

The Rhinos' night blackened further when Danny Buderus was sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul after a 50 metre breakaway by the Bulls full-back, Brett Kearney. But Leeds went on to enjoy their best spell of the game when reduced to 12 men, and they scored a second try when Brent Webb sent Delaney through the tiring defence. Sinfield was unable to convert, but a series of penalties allowed Leeds to keep the Bulls under pressure, and they cracked again when Sinfield dummied over in the 72nd minute.

McNamara said that Sinfield, the Leeds captain who was returning after four weeks out with a thigh injury, was the crucial figure in their comeback. But this will be remembered as Smith's night.